Michael D. Davis.

My family doesn’t really have traditions, but we do have habits, addictions, and superstitions. The main addiction I know I have when it comes to those special days of the year is movies.

I love movies. And when something comes up like a holiday I have a list of films to watch. Now, you are probably thinking that’s not so bad, everyone watches movies. Well, for this Christmas, my list boasts more than twenty movies, ranging from must-watch old favorites to maybe skip fresh releases.

And no, this isn’t just a Christmas thing. This is a New Year’s, Halloween, April fool’s, Elvis’ Birthday, and even July 3 type of thing. When the election was going on, I watched election focused movies. When we were in a heat wave, I was watching movies where people were suffering in the sun.

On a good day, I can watch three movies, on a great day seven. Movies seem to have become landmarks in my life. When something amazing happens, a movie is a celebration; when everything is horrible and depressing it’s a safe haven.

My Christmas movie list for this year is as follows going from must-watch to can skip:

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

2. Four Christmases

3. Elf

4. Peanuts Christmas Special

5. Jingle All The Way

6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

8. A Christmas Story

9. Trapped in Paradise

10. Friday After Next

11. Christmas with the Kranks

12. Bad Santa

13. Fred Claus

14. Deck the Halls

15. Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol

16. Daddy’s Home 2

17. Violent Night

18. Why Him

19. Silent Night

20. Dear Santa

Writing this a few days before Christmas, I can tell you I haven’t watched all 20 yet, but I have watched a good half dozen more that I didn’t put on the list. And as this is my last column for the year, I will give you my list of New Year’s Eve movies.

1. When Harry Met Sally

End of list.

Happy New Year.